From the Billings Gazette / Knight Ridder:

Ever since he bellowed from a Washington stage that he represents "the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party," former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean has had activists swooning and opponents cringing.

In his bid for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination, the smallish man (5 feet 8) from the smallish state (population 600,000) is polling big in the early-contest states of Iowa and New Hampshire. He is rousing audiences with roaring speeches. He is organizing grass-roots support online. And he is infuriating other Democratic candidates -especially his fellow New Englander, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts - with snippy asides about them.

As Dean officially launches his candidacy Monday in Burlington, Vt., he has vaulted unexpectedly into the top tier of Democratic contenders.